Citation power adds efficiency

It might not be Texas, but Newport’s rangers can now patrol the

city’s parks with more authority after a City Council vote on

Tuesday.

The two park rangers hired last year to monitor parks -- after a

rise in scuffles over field rights and other transgressions -- have

been given the ability to write tickets. It is a move we fully

support.

A ranger’s first duty is still to educate, as city officials

supporting the change noted, but skipping the time-consuming step of

calling in police or parking enforcement when people at parks are

breaking laws is a good idea. Whether it’s a group of unruly

ballplayers disputing diamond rights by force or someone parking

illegally, a park ranger should be able to enforce on the spot and

call police if necessary. Furthermore, if people know that park

rangers aren’t just educators in brown suits, they might think more

before doing something they shouldn’t.

One thing the city should consider, however, is how equipped a

ranger should now be. Police officers carry guns at their hips that

people know they’re allowed to use. What will a ranger have? A gun is

certainly too much, but the ranger’s safety should be considered if

he or she is expected to get involved in potentially violent

situations. Two of the citations rangers can issue are for noise and

alcohol, and noisy people drinking alcohol aren’t often the most

approachable -- especially if you’re giving them tickets.

The council might consider giving them pepper spray mace, or even

a club.

Parks are consistently crowded in Newport Beach and could use more

attention than an occasionally passing police officer.

“Our parks are overused, so somebody’s got to be sheriff there,”

Councilman John Heffernan rightly said. “Especially because there are

a lot of kids using them.”

The city employs only two rangers at its parks, so the promotion

sounds far from heavy-handed. The majority of their added authority

will likely be used on parking citations, but if something more major

happens, someone equipped to act is more likely to be there.

A ranger should remain a friendly patrolling presence at city

parks, but they might as well have the ability to intervene with

enforcement if visitors aren’t obeying laws.